Operations. The 459 Bombardment Group trained for combat with B-24s from summer 1943 to Jan 1944. Between Mar 1944 and Apr 1945, it flew strategic bombardment missions under the Fifteenth Air Force, raiding targets such as oil refineries, aircraft and munitions factories, industrial areas, airfields, and communication centers in Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Greece. In Mar 1944, the group attacked railroads in Italy to cut enemy supply lines leading to the Anzio beachhead. It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for a 23 Apr 1944 mission against an aircraft factory and airfield at Bad Voslau, Austria. The 459th took part in the pre-invasion bombing of southern France in Aug 1944. In Apr 1945, its aircraft struck railroad bridges, marshalling yards, and depots to support Allied forces in northern Italy. Between Apr 1947 and May 1951, the group served as a reserve bombardment group until called to active service in May 1951. Between Jun 1955 and Apr 1959, it served as a reserve troop carrier group in the Washington, DC, area. In Aug 1992, the 459th became an airlift group, flying jet transports as part of the Total Force concept. From then until September 1994, it participated in contingency and humanitarian airlift operations, training exercises, Air Mobility Command channel flights, and aeromedical evacuation missions and provided air transportation for deployment of other units. Supported Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM with intertheater airlift, Oct 2001- Sep 2003. Deployed aircraft and crews in 2005 to provide air refueling support of IRAQI FREEDOM. Supported global air refueling and aeromedical evacuation missions, 2003-.